Clerk Asks SCOTUS For Permission To Keep Denying Gay Marriage Licenses

Rowan County Kentucky Clerk Kim Davis shows emotion as she is cheered by a gathering of supporters during a rally on the steps of the Kentucky State Capitol in Frankfort Ky., Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015. Davis spoke at t... Rowan County Kentucky Clerk Kim Davis shows emotion as she is cheered by a gathering of supporters during a rally on the steps of the Kentucky State Capitol in Frankfort Ky., Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015. Davis spoke at the rally organized by The Family Foundation of Kentucky. The crowd of a few thousand included churchgoers from around the state. Davis has been sued by The American Civil Liberties Union for denying marriage licenses to gay couples. She says her Christian faith prohibits her from signing licenses for same-sex couples. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley) MORE LESS
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The Kentucky county clerk who has refused to issue any marriage licenses since the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage nationwide in June now is asking the Court to intervene in her case.

Rowan County Chief Clerk Kim Davis’ lawyers filed an emergency appeal late Friday asking the Court to grant “asylum for her conscience” and allow her to continue to deny marriage licenses to same-sex couples, according to The Associated Press.

Davis, an avowed Christian, has a religious objection to issuing marriage licenses to gay couples.

A federal appeals court on Wednesday declined Davis’ request for a stay of a district judge’s earlier ruling that ordered her to issue same-sex marriage licenses. But Davis’ office refused to issue a marriage license to another gay couple on Thursday morning.

The AP noted that Davis, who pulls in an $80,000 salary as chief clerk, can’t be fired from that post because she is an elected official.

Rowan closed her office Saturday ahead of a planned protest of her refusal to issue same-sex marriage licenses.

This post has been updated.

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